Imagine a place where families thrive, feel supported and have the tools they need to take care of themselves and raise their children with confidence. For more than 22 years Good Beginnings of Central Vermont has been creating a caring community in which to help families with newborn and adoptive infants. Their primary commitment is to provide families with support, mentorship, education and a connection to community resources. Many readers may see Good Beginnings on their town ballots for funding at Town Meeting Day this March. Please vote to give support for the wonderful, free services they offer families.

GBCV’s main initiatives are early bonding, resource connection, early literacy and fatherhood involvement. In addition to weekly home visiting to provide role modeling, encouragement and intervention, Good Beginnings also provides free parenting education workshops and free events for fathers or male role models and their children throughout the year. In fact, all Good Beginnings services are free to families, regardless of income or circumstance. The Nest, a community resources center, is open weekly at the Good Beginnings office at 174 River St. in Montpelier. There families can connect with one another and with support groups such as Ask a Midwife (first Thursdays), Babywearers of Central Vermont (second Thursdays), and La Leche (third Thursdays). GBCV also offers free and reduced-cost infant carriers, emergency funding for crises and free gently used baby items. For more about GBCV, visit www.goodbeginningscentralvt.org or find them on Facebook.